Contents

Source

The Anduin began as two different streams near where the Misty Mountains met the Grey. These were called the Langwell and the Greylin by the Éothéod when they lived in the triangle of land formed by it. Their old capital Framsburg was built at the confluence of these streams where the Anduin proper began. The Langwell had its source in the Misty Mountains, close to Mount Gundabad, and the Greylin began in the westernmost heights of the Grey Mountains.

Tributaries

In order from north to south: the Rhimdath (Rushdown), the Ninglor (Gladden) which joined at the marshes known as the Gladden Fields, the Celebrant (Silverlode), the River Limlight, the Onodló (Entwash), the Morgulduin, the Erui, the Sirith and the Poros. The first five had their sources in the Misty Mountains, the Morgulduin and (presumably) the Poros in the Ephel Dúath on the border of Mordor, and the rest in the White Mountains.

Crossing Points

There was a bridge in the city of Osgiliath, broken by the forces of Mordor.

Settlements

During the March of the Elves in the Time of the Trees, the Nandor left the Eldarin host when faced with
the great heights of the Misty Mountains, and lived in the Vale of Anduin. Some
of those people later left and became the Green-elves of Ossiriand, but Elves
remained present even until the time of the War the Ring, strengthed by refugees
from Beleriand (at the end of the First Age) and Eregion (during the Second).

Settlements in the Vale of Anduin during the Third Age included the northman city of Framsburg, Beorn's Halls and the Stoor settlements near the Gladden Fields (where Sméagol/Gollum) was born. It was in the Gladden Fields in the northern reaches of Anduin that Isildur was slain and the One Ring lost; and it was there, more than two millennia later, that Déagol found the Ring and Sméagol took it from him. Rhosgobel, home of Radagast the Brown, and the Elven Realm of Lothlorien also lay in the Vale of Anduin.

Once it had entered Gondor the river flowed past Osgiliath and Minas Tirith and then Pelagir, close to the sea. After the fall of Osgiliath the river effectively marks the eastern limit of Gondor's influence.

Islands

The principal islands appear to have been Cair Andros, on the borders of Ithilien and Tol Brandir in Nen Hithoel. Carrock, in the north was where the Eagles deposited Thorin and Company. There was also an eyot, where the Fellowship rested during their travel between Lorien and Parth Galen.